Fort Worth weekly gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1887-05-20

the back Of the pluHging steed of Lag
ona, and loosened fs rein, and himself
mounted, he whispefed another word OF
two Of hope and encouragement in hel
ear, and then headeSsthe frightened ami
nal for the gorge. Wildly it bounded on
the guard fires marking and lighting the
way, while the terriheaS sentinels either
shrunk back from the path, or fell upon
their faces helpless with terror.
At pace which, with a horse unused
to the perilous path, he never would have
dared to keep, Mccullough Numbered
| through the gorge, firing one of his pis
| tolls as signal when he neRred the SPOT
! where he knew he would meet his own
men; and in as little time-ay, less
than have taken to describe it, he was
out upon the free prairie, and bounding
toward his own little camp.
The next moment Stella was in the
arms of his father and Paul, weeping and
sobbing for JOY, while the Major, without
pausing to remove the paint from his per-
son, WAS hurriedIy putting on the gar
ments which he laid off when he under
took his adventure.
m0h, major, what do we not owe you?
My life, my whole plantation, shall be
)
"YOu'll lose the first and never reach
the last if you stop here for talking"
said the major; and he ordered one of his
men to bring his own horse. "You can
still ride the white, Miss Stella" he said.
she must be tired with his long Journey;
but you are light weight and he must
carry you. l will keep q. hand on his
rein.n
Tho renoers ,,ouy cricbIr, o,o+Lorod 20
the side Of their leader IA
"Mount, men, mount ands awayI- We
must put many league betweeI this
Well have thousands tieon oAir> trail. :
and follow mel he cried.
With1Stellsson the swiftshorse Of La-
COMA, theEmaior's hand upon its rein, and
Der father and Paul ridingaclose by her
side, fshe gallant band now swept away
shouts, speaking no words-the hoofs of
their horses scarce making a sound upon
the grassy earth. On, on-like black
earth-fhey passed, leaving the rushing
Pho Pecos and the gloomy hills of the
Cnarrate far in their rear.
The rescue had been effected. And
never in tale of ancient chivalry, never in
record Of belted knighthood, never in
history of modern bravery, had the story
greater peril met, or more gallantly over
come, than there and then.
1t was a long time before Lsgona could
get his terrified warriors ready for SER /
NJ Trha Of ha laI +ba,,o
through the gorge, the day was dawning. |
He rode 70 the spot where the rangers |
had encamped; but only the smoldering
embers of their fires were left to show |
that they had been there, and had been |
gone for hours.
With bitter look of anger aud disap- |
DOimtment, Lagona, at the head of over 8
warriors, took their trail. His /
horses were feet and fresh, and he felt no
doubt that he would overtake them.
Therefore, urging his horse to it's ut .
most speed, he led the way, followed by
his now treasured warriors-who, as
hey rode on seemed TO forget the terrors
If the night in the hope of the scalps
which the trail they followed promised 10
so large body.
CHAPTER XIII.
The rangers and those whom they es-
,Orted kept on until the blue of dawn be-
yan to tighten the blackness of night,
without for moment lessening their
speed; but when light came, and they
could see about them, the Major began
% spare his horses, so as not utterly to
)reak their wind and render them useless
4 case of forced encounter on the
prairie.
In the rear, far away, could still be
seen the black, rough hills of the Char
ate, and in the distant eastern horizon
he fringe of trees could be distinguished
which marked thu spot where they cap
.ured Malerson and ais gang.
"Do you think that we will be pur-
3ued?" asked Mr.. Delorme of the Major
"Yes," was the reply "probsbly not
ill daylight; but surely then would such
, warrior as Lggona take our trial. He
las probably by this time seen the lasso
which helped me down the mountain and
ound the knife which dropped when l
,ut mis- horse loose from the picket, and
what kind of devil he had
n his camp last night. l can't help
aughing when | remember how the red
dropped and scattered and hid
their heads when l dashed in among
them; five hundred of my rangers with
heir siX-shooters in hand never would
have begun to terrify them so. Even
Lagons, whom we all know to be as brave
IS q lion, fell to the earth, and, wrapping
lis head in his blanket, lay and trembled
when passed over him. When 1 rode
through the gorge some of the senti-
lels Jumped into thelwater-some dropped
IS if they were shot. Amore frightened
SET of curses l never saw before aud
iever expect to see again while live I
shall laugh about it till Pm white-hesded
With age, if Pm so unfortunate as to live
hat long, LsgOns will never forgive me
or his fright. If he We're our prisoner he
you'd kill himself in very shame"
And the brave, noble hearted Major
aughed loud and long as he thought of
lie ludicrous terror Of the Indians.
81 should have been as much terrified
Is they were had such looking figure
,ome upon me in the night, and l not
.ware of what it was," said Mr.. Delorme.
Your daughter was not terrified in the
east" said the Major. "She made !
carce a breath of outcrY when she saw
ne, and was as silent as mouse when l
ook her up to bring her off,"
"The hopeless are dead to terror, be-
ieve," said Stella with 8 smile. II felt
hst l was in LGgona'S power, and not ]
ven death would have added to my ter
IA few more adventures like this will
90 YOU used TO the Indians. l begin :
most to envy you your perils and es
apes. You'll throw Us rangers COM
letel7 in the background" said the Ma